Milford hauen, we cast about by the Blockehouse and S. Annes chappell
[Sidenote: Gateholme Ile.]
to Gateholme Ile, that lieth betwéene S. Annes and the Wilocke point,
[Sidenote: Stockholme Ile.]
directlie ouer against Stockeholme Iland that is situat further off into
the sea, toward the southwest, and is full halfe so great as the
Scalmeie that I elsewhere described. Betweene the Willocke point also
[Sidenote: Midland Ile.]
and the Scalmeie, directlie west is the Midland Ile, full so great as
the Gateholme. As for the two rocks that lie by north and south of the
Scalmeie, of which the one is called the Yardland stone, the other
Mewstone, it shall not be greatlie requisit to stand on their
discourses, sith they are such as may hardlie be taken for Ilands, and
euen in like sort we may iudge of S. Brides Ile, which is southwest of
[Sidenote: Gresholme.]
Calthrop rode, & likewise of the Gresholme, whereof I find this short
description. The Gresholme lieth directlie west of Scalmeie, from whence
if you saile thither on the south side, you must néeds passe by the
Mewstone rocke: if on the north of Scalmeie, you must leaue the Yarland
stone on your left hand. Wherto if you note well the situation of these
Ilands alreadie named, and confer them with the Ramseie and S. Dauids
land, you shall find them to produce as it were two dangerous points,
including the Bridbaie, wherein (notwithstanding the greatnesse) are
1000 perils, and no fresh brookes for me to deale withall. Finallie,
hauing doubled the Willocke point, we thought it not good altogether to
leaue that baie vnsearched, at lestwise to sée what Ilands might there
be found, & long entred into the same, we beheld one which the men of
[Sidenote: S. Brides Iland.]
the countrie call S. Brides Iland, a verie little place and situate
néere the land, before I came at Galtroie rode. From thence we went
about by the little hauen, Doluach hauen, Caruaie hauen, Shirelace
rocke, Carnbuddie, and Carnaie baies, Portelais, and so into the sound
betwéene Ramseie and the point. In this sound likewise is a little Ile,
almost annexed to the maine: but in the middest thereof, I meane of the
sound, is a rocke called the horsse (a mile and more by north of Ribbie
rocke, that lieth south east of Ramseie) and more infortunate than ten
[Sidenote: A sort of dangerous rocks lieng on a row upon the
west end of South-wales called the Bishop & his clerkes.]
of Seians colts, but thanked be God I neuer came on his backe. Thence
passing by S. Stephans, and Whitesand baies, we saluted the Bishop and
his clerks, as they went on procession on our left side (being loth to
take anie salted holie water at their hands) and came at last to the
point called S. Dauids head, which Ptolomie calleth Octapitanum
promontorium, except I be deceiued. But here gentle reader giue me leaue
to staie a while, and insert the words of Leland touching the land
called S. Dewies or S. Dauids land, whereof some men may peraduenture
haue vse, his words are these. Being therefore past this hauen and point
[Sidenote: S. Dewie or Dauid all one.]
of Demetia, in casting about the coast we come to S. Dewies or S. Dauids
land, which Ptolomie calleth Octapitanum promontorium, I read to be
separated from the rest of the countrie much after this maner, although
I grant that there may be and are diuerse other little creekes betwixt
Newgale and S. Dauids head, and betwixt S. Dauids and Fischard, beside
those that are héere mentioned out of a register of that house.
As we turne therefore from Milford, S. Dauids land beginneth at Newgale,
a créeke serued with a backe fresh water. Howbeit there is a baie before
this creeke betwixt it and Milford. From hence about foure miles is
[Sidenote: Saluach.]
Saluach creeke, otherwise called Sauerach, whither some fresh water
resorteth: the mouth also thereof is a good rescue for balingers, as it
[Sidenote: Portelais.]
(I meane the register) saith. Thence go we to Portelais three miles,
[Sidenote: Alen.]
where is a little portlet, whither the Alen that commeth through saint
Dewies close dooth run. It lieth a mile south-west from S. Dewies,
[Sidenote: Portmaw.]
saint Stinans Chappell also is betwéene Portelais, and Portmaw. The next
[Sidenote: Maw.]
[Sidenote: Pendwie.]
[Sidenote: Lanuehan.]
is Port Maw, where I found a great estuarie into the land. The Pendwie
halfe a mile from that: Lhand Vehan is thrée miles from Pendwie, where
[Sidenote: Tredine.]
is a salt créeke, then to Tredine three miles, where is another creeke
[Sidenote: Langunda.]
to Langunda, foure miles, and another créeke is there in like sort where
fishermen catch herrings. Héere also the Gwerne riuer diuideth
[Sidenote: Fischard.]
Penbidiane from Fischerdine Kemmeis land. From Langunda to Fischard at
[Sidenote: Gwerne.]
the Gwerne mouth foure miles, and here is a portlet or hauenet also for
ships. And thus much of S. Dauids land.
Besides this also, Leland in a third booke talketh of lhinnes and
pooles, but for as much as my purpose is not to speake of lakes and
lhinnes, I passe them ouer as hasting to Teifie, in Latine Tibius, and
after Ptolomie Tuerobius or Tiuirobius, which is the next riuer that
serueth for my purpose. And yet not forgetting to touch the Gwerne, for
after we came from saint Dauids head, we coasted along toward the
southeast, till wée came ouer against saint Catharins, where going
northwards by the broad hauen, and the Strombles head, we sailed thence
northeast, and by north, to Langlas head, then flat south by the Cow and
Calfe (two cruell rockes) which we left on the left hand, & so coasted
ouer to Abergwin or Fischard where we found a fresh water named Guin, or
[Sidenote: Gwerne.]
Gwerne, whose course is in manner directlie out of the east into the
west, from Vremie hils by pont Vaunt and Lanichair, vntill it come
within a mile of the foresaid towne. It riseth flat north of the
Perselie hill, from whence it goeth by Pont vaine, Lauerillidoch,
Lanchar, Landilouair, & so to Abergwine, or Abergwerne, for I read both.
[Sidenote: Neuerne.]
From Abergwine, we cast about by Dinas head, till we come to the fall of
Neuerne, where Newport standeth. The head of this riuer is aboue Capell
Nantgwin, from whence it runneth by Whitchurch, but yer it come at
Kilgwin, it taketh in a little water that riseth short of Wrenie vaure,
and thence go foorth as one vntill they come to Newport. Cardigan hauen
is the next fall that I did stumble on, wherein lieth a little Iland
[Sidenote: Teifie or Tine.]
ouer against the north point. Hereinto also commeth the Teifie, a noble
riuer which riseth in Lintiuie, and is fraught with delicate samons, and
herein and not else where in all the riuers of Britaine, is the Castor
or Beuer to be found. But to procéed. The verie hed thereof (I saie) is
foure miles aboue Stradflore in Luitie, and after it hath run from
thence a little space, it receiueth a brooke from southeast that commeth
out of Lin Legnant, and then after the confluence runneth on to
[Sidenote: Miricke.]
Stradflore abbeie, beneth which it méeteth with the Miricke water (that
[Sidenote: Landurch.]
riseth aboue Stradmirich) and soone after with the Landurch (both from
the northwest) and finallie the Bremich aboue Tregaron, that commeth in
by the east; as Leland hath set downe.
[Sidenote: Bromis.]
Néere to Landwibreuie also it crosseth the Bromis by east northeast, and
[Sidenote: Matherne.]
then goeth to Landuair, Cledogh, Kellan, and soone after taking in the
Matherne from by east, that parteth Cardigan partlie from Carmardine
[Sidenote: Dulas.]
shire, and likewise that Dulas aboue Lanbedder (which riseth aboue
Langibbie, and goeth thence to Bettus) on the northwest, it goeth next
of all to Lanbedder towne, then to Laniuair, beneath which it crosseth
[Sidenote: Grauelth.]
the Grauelth, thence to Pencarocke, Lanibether, Lanlonie, Lanihangle,
[Sidenote: Clethor.]
and Sandissell, and there it vniteth it selfe with the Clethor or
Dettor, which commeth downe thither by Lantisilued chappell, Lanfraine,
and finallie Landissell from by north, as I doo here affirme. After this
confluence it procéedeth on to Landuaie, Alloine, Bangor, Langeler,
[Sidenote: Kerie.]
Landeureog and Newcastell, yer long taking in the Kerie from by north,
whose head is not farre from that of Clethor, and whose course is
somewhat inlarged by such rilles as descend into the same. For west of
Kenwith two becks in one chanell doo fall into it, which be namelesse,
and but of a little length.
Beneath Tredwair also it crosseth another from by west, that runneth
along by Bettus, Euan, and finallie méeting with the Teifie, they run as
one by Kennarth (still parting Cardigon shire from Carmardin, as it hath
doone sith it met with the Matherne) and so forth on till they ioine
[Sidenote: Cheach.]
with the Cheach, which rising southeast aboue chappell Euan, dooth part
Carmardine and Brechnocke shire in sunder, till it come vnto the Teifie.
From this confluence, and being still a limit vnto Cardigon shire, it
goeth by Marierdine, and so to Cardigon, taking in one rill from by
north descending by Penneralt, by north of Monardiue or Marierdine, and
two other from by southwest, of which the one commeth in beneath
Kilgaron castell, the other from Lantwood north west of Oscoid Mortemer,
which lieth southeast of Cardigan, and then going forward betwéene S.
Dogmaile, & Langordmere, it is not long yer it fall into the Irish sea,
flat west and by north from his vprise, and sending vs forth from
Penlooke into Cardigon shire, wherevnto it hath become march euer
sithence it came from Kellam, or confluence with the Matherne.
Being come into Cardigon shire, and hauing passed the Cardigon point, an
Iland of the same denomination lieng by west thereof, we came vnto the
[Sidenote: Airon.]
fall of Airon thrée miles beneath Lancleere, it riseth in the mounteines
by a chappell called Blam Peniall belonging to Landwie breuie about
thrée or foure miles from Tiue banks, & runneth on by Lamberwooddie,
Langitho, Tregrigaron hill, Treuilian, Talaferne, and soone after taking
in a rill from by south from Siliam by Lanleir it runneth by Istrade,
Kilkennen, Lanicharin, and finallie into the sea, crossing by the waie
[Sidenote: Bidder.]
the Bidder brooke, which comming from Dehewide, dooth fall into the same,
[Sidenote: Arth.]
betwéene Lanchairin, and Henuenneie. The Arth which is the next fall is
no great thing, neither of anie long course, yet somewhat crotched, and
it riseth three or foure miles or more within the land slopewise, and
comming by Lambaderne, and Treueglois, it falleth into the sea,
northeast of Aberarth.
Being past the Arth, & hauing staied there a while bicause we found some
[Sidenote: Ris aliàs Wereie.]
harborough, we came next of all vnto the Wereie, which riseth of two
heads, aboue whose confluence standeth a towne, named Lanihangle,
Redrod, and from whence it goeth by Lanigruthen to Laristed, & so into
the Ocean. Then went we to the Ystwith, which riseth in the blacke
mounteins aboue Comerstwith, from whence it runneth certeine miles,
[Sidenote: Istwith.]
vntill it come vnto Ispittie, Istwith, Lananon, Laniler, Lan Nachairne,
[Sidenote: Redholl.]
and so into the sea, taking withall first the Meleuen, then the Ridall
or Redholl not farre from the shore, whereof I haue this description.
The Ridall riseth in the top of Plimlimmon hill out of a lake named Lin
Ridall, from whence going toward Spittie Kinwen, it crosseth one water
on the north, and another beneth it on the southeast, and so goeth on by
Lanbeder vaure, till it come to Aberistwith, the Istwith, and so into
the Ocean. Hauing thus viewed the Istwith, and taken our selues againe
[Sidenote: Salique.]
to the sea, we crossed the Salke or Salique brooke, whereof I find this
memoriall.
The Salique brooke descendeth in like sort from the blacke mounteins, &
going from Vmmaboue, toward Gogarth, or Gogirthar, it receiueth the
[Sidenote: Massalique.]
Massalique, and from thence goeth into the sea, southwest from his
[Sidenote: Lerie.]
originall. From hence we went to the Lerie, an indraught of no great
quantitie, neither commodious as I gesse (yet I may be deceiued) for
anie ship to harborough in. It riseth toward the lower ground of the
blacke hils, and going by Lanihangle castell Gwalter, it runneth from
thence northeast into the Ocean, receiuing a rill by the waie from the
hilles which lie by northeast of his course. But what stand I vpon
trifles?
[Sidenote: Wie.]
Thus haue I brought my selfe out of Caerdigan shire vnto the Wie, which
is limit betwéene it and Merioneth for a certeine space, & being entred
in the mouth thereof we gat vp to the head, minding in the description
of the same to come downeward as in the rest, which we will doo in such
good manner as for the time and want of some information is possible to
be performed. It ariseth in the south part of Snowdonie and goeth on
foorth right to Lammothwie, by Mowdhewie, Mathan laith, and comming
downe to Dinas Mathew, it receiueth two rilles from northwest, and the
third comming by Mailroid called Cludoch from northeast, & so holdeth on
crossing the Angell water at the west, which boundeth Mongomerie shire
[Sidenote: Remis.]
in part, till it come to Romis, beneath which water it taketh in the
Towin that passeth by Lambrin mawr from Talgarth, and then goeth to
Mathrauerne, crossing another from by north and so foorth to Lanworing,
where it méeteth with the Kerig on the one side, and the Gwidall which
commeth from Dorowen on the other.
After this, our maine riuer goeth by Pengos, and beneath the same taketh
in an influence from southeast, called the Dulas, and another from the
northwest: from thence it hasteth on to Magenillet, or Machenlet, first
crossing the Leuennie from southeast, secondlie the Peniall from
northwest, thirdlie the Einon, fourthlie the Kinar, fiftlie the Cleidor,
these thrée last rehearsed falling into it from southeast, & the last
hauing his course by Langwinhelin and so into the sea, as mine
instruction vpholdeth. It séemeth in some mens iudgements to part
Northwales and Westwales in sunder, and the same which in Latine hight
Deuus, in Welsh or British Difi or Dewie, whereof the Latine doth séeme
to fetch his sound. But to procéed with the rest of such falles and
waters as are to be found in this countie. Going therfore northwestward
we come to a fall fr[=o] the north called Towen Merionneth which is the
mouth of the Difonnie streame, a pretie riuer rising in the hilles aboue
Lanihangle, and west of castell Traherne receiueth the Ridrijc, which
commeth from Chadridrijc hill, by Tallillin castell, Treherie, and so
into the Difonnie from southeast, fetching his course by Lanegrin, and
so into the sea within fiue miles thereof.
Being past this we did cast about by the Sarnabigh point, till we came
to the Lingouen becke, and so to the Barre, which is a faire water, and
therefore worthie to be with diligence described, yet it is not called
Bar from the head, but rather Moth or Derie, for so are the two chiefe
heads called out of which this riuer descendeth, and are about six miles
west of the Lin, out of which the Dée hath his issue, and betwéene which
the Raran vaure hilles are situat and haue their being. After the
ioining of the two heds of this Barre, as I name it from the originall,
it receiueth a rill from northeast called Cain, & another beneath the
same, comming from Beurose wood, and so holdeth on towards the south
betwéene Laniltid and Kemmor abbaie, till it meet a little by west of
Dolgelth with the Auon vaure, which comming also out of the Woodland
soile, & taking in a rill from Gwannas, hasteth northwestward (by
Dolgelth) to ioine with the Barre, and being met they receiue the
Kessilgunt, then the Hirgun, & after a course of foure to fiue miles it
falleth into the sea, hauing watered the verie hart & inward parts of
this shire. From hence we crosse the Skethie which runneth by Corsogdale
and Lanthwie, aliàs Lanthonie, then the Lambader which receiuing the
Artro aboue Lambader, doth fall into the sea, southeast of the point,
and flat south of Landango, which is a towne situat on the other side of
the turning.
[Sidenote: Ho.]
After this we passed by Aberho, so named of the riuer Ho, that falleth
there into the sea, and commeth thither from the Alpes or hils of
Snowdonie, mounteins, no lesse fertile for grasse, wood, cattell, fish
and foule, than the famous Alpes beyond the seas, whereof all the
writers doo make so honorable report. From hence we sailed by Abermawr
[Sidenote: Mawr.]
or mouth of Mawr, which commeth in like sort from Snowdonie, and taketh
[Sidenote: Artro.]
diuerse riuers with him whose names I doo not know. Then vnto the Artro
a brooke, whose head commeth from by north east, and in his course
receiueth the Gedar on the north side, and so holdeth on till it fall
into the sea, after a few windlesses which it maketh as it passeth.
After this we come to Traith vehan, which is the fall of the Drurid, a
pretie riuer comming from the marches of Caernaruonshire, which passing
by Festimog, soone after taketh in the Cunwell, then the Velenrid; and
so holdeth on to Deckoin, where it falleth into the said Traith. For of
the other two rilles that lie by south hereof, and haue their issue also
into the same, I make but small accompt, bicause their quantitie is not
[Sidenote: Farles.]
great. Next vnto this we haue Traith mawr, whereinto the Farles hath his
issue, a riuer proceeding from Snowdonie or the Snowdon hils, descending
by Bethkelerke and Lanwrothen, without mixture of anie other water in
all his course and passage. It is parcell of the march also betwéene
Merioneth and Caernaruon shires. From Traith mawr we passe by the
Krekith, and come to another water descending from the north by
Lanstidwie, and after that to the Moie, whose mouthes are so néere
togither, that no more than halfe a mile of the land dooth seeme to
kéepe them in sunder.
[Sidenote: Erke.]
Then come we vnto the Erke, a pretie brooke descending from Madrijn
hils, into whose mouth two other of no lesse quantitie than it selfe doo
séeme to haue their confluence, and whose courses doo come along from
the west and northwest; the most southerlie being called Girch, and the
other the Hellie: except my memorie doo faile me. Then casting about
toward the south (as the coast lieth) we saw the Abersoch or mouth of
[Sidenote: Soch.]
the Soch riuer vpon our right hand, in the mouth whereof, or not farre
by south thereof lie two Ilands, of which the more northerlie is called
Tudfall, and the other Penrijn: as Leland did obserue. I would set downe
the British names of such townes and villages as these waters passe by;
but the writing of them (for want of the language) is so hard to me,
that I choose rather to shew their falles and risings, than to corrupt
their denominations in the writing: and yet now and then I vse such
words as our Englishmen doo giue vnto some of them, but that is not
often, where the British name is easie to be found out and sounded.
After this, going about by the point, and leauing Gwelin Ile on the
[Sidenote: Daron.]
right hand, we come to Daron riuer, wherevpon standeth Aberdaron a
quarter of a mile from the shore betwixt Aberdaron and Vortigernes vale,
where the compasse of the sea gathereth in a head, and entereth at both
[Sidenote: Edarne beck.]
ends. Then come we about the point to Edarne becke, a mile and more
south of Newin. And ten or twelue miles from hence is the Vennie brooke,
whose course is little aboue so manie miles; and not farre from it is
the Liuan, a farre lesse water, comming also from the east: and next
vnto that another, wherinto the Willie by south and the Carrog by north
after their coniunction doo make their common influence. Hauing passed
this riuer, we cast about toward the north east, and enter at Abermenaie
ferrie, into the streicts or streame called Menaie, betweene Angleseie
and the maine, méeting first of all with the Gornaie, which commeth from
the Snowdonie out of the Treuennian lake, and passeth by Lanunda into
the sea or Menaie streame at Southcrocke. Next of all we meet with the
Saint, which commeth from Lin Lanbereie, passeth by Lanihangle, and so
falleth into the Menaie at Abersaint, which is on the southwest side of
Caernaruon: on the other side also of the said towne is the Skeuernocke,
whereby it standeth betweene two riuers, of which this hath his head not
farre from Dinas Orueg.
Then come we (saith Leland) to Gwiniwith mirith (or Horsse brooke) two
miles from Moilethon, and it riseth at a Well so called full a mile from
thence. Moilethon is a bowe shot from Aberpowle, from whence ferrie
[Sidenote: Conte.]
botes go to the Termone or Angleseie. Aberpowle runneth thrée miles into
the land, and hath his head foure miles beyond Bangor in Meneie shore:
and here is a little comming in for botes bending into the Meneie. Aber
[Sidenote: Gegeine.]
Gegeine commeth out of a mounteine a mile aboue, and Bangor (thorough
[Sidenote: Torronnen.]
which a rill called Torronnen hath his course) almost a mile aboue it.
[Sidenote: Ogwine.]
Aber Ogwine is two miles aboue that; it riseth at Tale linne, Ogwine
[Sidenote: Auon.]
poole, fiue miles aboue Bangor in the east side of Withow. Aber Auon is
two miles aboue Aberogwene, and it riseth in a poole called Lin man Auon,
[Sidenote: Lannar.
Vehan.]
thrée miles off. Auon lan var Vehan riseth in a mounteine therby, and
[Sidenote: Duegeuelth.]
goeth into the sea, two miles aboue Duegeuelth. Auon Duegeuelth is three
miles aboue Conweie, which rising in the mounteins a mile off, goeth by
it selfe into Meneie salt arme. On the said shore also lieth Conweie,
and this riuer dooth run betwixt Penmaine Maur, and Penmaine Vehan. It
riseth about three miles from Penmaclon hils which lie about sixtie
miles from Conweie abbeie, now dissolued out of a lake called Lin
Conweie, and on the north and west of this riuer standeth the towne of
Conweie, which taketh his name thereof.
[Sidenote: Téec.]
This riuer (which Ptolomie calleth Toesobius, as I take it) after the
deriuation thereof from the head, passeth on the west side by Spittieuan
and Tiherio, beneath which it taketh in a streame comming from the east
out of Denbighshire, deriued from thrée heads, and of the greatest
called Nag. Soone after also another, and then the third, which commeth
in from the west by Lanpen Mawr: next of all the Leder on the same side,
which commeth by Dolathelan castell: and aboue that from a Lin of the
[Sidenote: Ligow.]
same denomination. Beneath this and selfe hand lieth likewise the Ligow
or Ligwie, procéeding from two lakes, that is, the Mumber and the Ligow.
On the right hand as we still descend, is the Coid, then the Glin, & a
little lower we méet with the Lin Gerioneth: and after we be past
another on the right side, we come to the Perloid, which commeth out of
Lin Cowlid, to the Ygan, to the Idulin, to the castell Water on the
left, & then to the Melandider on the right, without the sight of anie
other, till we come almost to Conweie, where we find a notched streame
comming from by west, and called Guffen or Gyffin into the same by one
chanell on the northeast side of the towne, beneath Guffin or Gyffin,
and ouer against Lansanfraid in Denbighshire; so farre as I now
remember. Some part of Carnaruonshire stretcheth also beyond Aber
[Sidenote: Ormeshed.]
Conweie, or the fall of Conweie, & it is called Ormeshed point, wherein
also is a rill, whose fall into the sea is betwéene Penrin and
Landright. And thus we haue made an end of the chéefe waters which are
to be found in this countie.